Car-coupling



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

OAR GOUPLING.

Patented May 7; 1889..

(No Model.)

4 2 Sheets-Sheet P. A. WESTBROOK & W. S. COOK.

- GAR COUPLING. No. 403,016. Patented- May '7, 1889.

- III: 1": 165M460 p M WI'L E5525:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK A. VVESTBROOK, OF PORT JERVIS, AND \VINFIELD S. OOOK, OF

MIDDLETOIVN, NEW YORK.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,016, dated May '7, 1889.

Application filed February 15, 1889. Serial No, 299,973. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FRANK A. Wnsr- BROOK, of Port Jervis, in the county of Or ange and State of New York, and WINFIELD S. COOK, of Middletown, in the same county and State, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Oar-Couplings; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

. Our invention relates to an improvement in automatic car-couplings; and it consists in, first, a cast coupling-head which is formed of a number of thin horizontal layers of metal, which are separated a suitable distance apart, so as to enable the head to be annealed; second, a draw-head provided with ribs upon its inner side for the purpose of enabling the head to be thoroughly annealed; third, the combination of a draw-head provided with a projection upon its front end with a pivoted coupling-head whichis provided with a cavity to receive the projection and a hook or extension to catch behind it; fourth, a sliding operating-lever, a cam placed loosely thereon, the draw-head, and the locking-lever, which is pivoted in the draw-head; fifth, the arrangement and combination of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of our invention is to provide an automatic car-coupling in which the coupling and the draw-heads are thoroughly annealed, so that they cannot be crushed or broken, and in which the parts are few, simple, and effective in operation.

Figures 1 and 2 are longitudinal sectioiis of a coupler which embodies our invention, taken at right angles to each other. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the coupler-head. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the endwise-moving lever and cam.

A represents the draw-head, which is preferably shaped as shown, and which has its rear portion contracted in size, and made tubular, as shown in Fig. 5, and strengthening' ribs and flanges formed longitudinally around its sides for the purpose of strengthening it at its point. Either the rear end of the head may be cut off at the end of these flanges, as shown in Fig. 2, or the head may be slightly enlarged at this point, as shown in Fig. 1, and a tubular socket or chamber, B, formed therein. Through the center of the inner end of the draw-head is formed an opening through which the draft-bolt O is passed, and the chamber I), whether formed in a separate piece, as shown in Fig. 2, or formed as a part of the draw-head, is placed concentric to this bolt.

In the chamber B is placed a piece of rub- .ber, D, against which the circular tenon E presses, the tongue being formed as a part of the casting F, placed upon the bolt 0, and bearing against the outer end of the casting F is the casting G, against which one end of the spring I-I bears. If the chamber B is formed separately from the coupling-head, the casting F will have its inner end to bear directly against the draw-head, as shown in Fig. 2, and the chamber B will receivethe pressure of the end of the spring directly against it. Upon the outer end of the bolt 0 is placed a second chamber, B, in which is placed a cushion of rubber, D, and outside of this chamber is placed a second casting, F, provided with a circular tongue, E. The pressure of the spring H is regulated by the nut placed upon the outer end of the bolt, as shown. The inner end of the bolt 0 being headed, it must be passed through the drawhead A before any of the other parts are placed in position. By means of the construction here shown the life of a draw-head will be almost doubled, for no crushing or breaking momentum can be given the drawhead or draft appliances as longas the rubber cushions are provided, as here shown. The same principle may be applied as a buffing-block between the cars. The parts here shown may be used in connection with the draft appliances in general use, so that there need be no change in the draw-head or follower-casting to apply this method of cushionin g.

In order to anneal and toughen the drawhead A, so that it cannot be crushed or broken when the cars run together, longitudinal grooves I are formed in the interior of the body A, and corresponding grooves are formed around the right outer corner or end of the body, as shown in dotted lines. By means of these grooves, which extend into the thickest portion of the body, it can be thoroughly annealed and toughened, enabling the body to be made lighter and stronger and less liable to injury. Cast upon the outer right corner of the draw-head A is the projection J, which catches in a corresponding recess, K, formed in the coupling-head L, which is pivoted upon the bolt Min the usual manner. This coupling-head, instead of being made in a solid casting, as has heretofore been done, is formed of a number of thin layers, as shown in Fig. 3, and which layers are separated a suiflcient distance apart to allow the coupling-head to be thoroughly annealed and toughened, so as to withstand any ordinary strain or crushing action. This coupling-head is provided with the two shoulders N, which. bear against the end of the draw-head just in advance of the coupling-bolt M, and the two shoulders O, which bear against corresponding shoulders formed in the draw-head A, and on its inner side or edge are formed a series of flanges, P P, of which the ones P are the widest and the thickest. These flanges are separated a sufficient distance from each other, so as to correspond to the ribs made in the draw-head A, so that in case ice should form upon the flanges it will be crushed or broken away as the head is closed into position, and catch between the flanges or dropped into the bottom of the front end of the head A, where a chamber or recess is made to receive it. Dirt or other substance which may get upon these flanges may be crushed in the same manner.

Upon the head is formed the stop or arm Q, which strikes against the front portion of the draw-head A, as shown in Fig. 1; also formed upon this coupling-head is the hooked port-ion R, which catches behind the projection J when the head is closed, so that all of the buffing and drawing strain is taken from the bolt M, which is passed through an opening slightly too large for it, so that it will never be injured no matter what strain may be brought to bear upon the head L. In the rear edge of the coupling-head L is formed a recess, a, in which the front end of the locking-lever S catches. Vhen the coupling-head is closed, the front end of this locking-lever S drops in front of the shoulder T, so that the head cannot be opened again until the front end of the lever S is raised sufficiently high to allow the shoulder T to pass under it. The operation of this part of our invention is the same as that shown and described in. the patents heretofore granted to us.

The locking-lever S is pivoted in rear end of the draw-head A, and is made widest at that point directly over the slot in the under side of the head, so as to be struck and operated by the cam U on the endwise-moving shaft V. This shaft is journaled in suitable boxes on the under side of the draft-timbers and has an endwise-sliding movement. In order to prevent the rod from becoming displaced, a stop-pin is passed through its inner end. On the outer end is formed a crank or handle and a locking flange or projection, WV. That portion of the rod where it passes through the cam is made square, so that it can play freely back and forth through the cam U. In that box X which is close to the crank or handle end of the rod is formed a slight recess, Y, and when the rod V is forced endwise the flange or projection catches in this part Y, so as to prevent the rod from turning, and thus holds the cam in any desired position. When it is desired to prevent the cars from coupling, the cam U is turned into the position shown in Fig. 5, so as to hold the lockingdever S in a raised position, and then if the coupling-head L should be forced into. a closed position there will be nothing to lock it there.

Having thus described our invention, we claim- 1. A draw-head provided with a series of grooves in its thicker portions, so as to e11- able the head to be annealed, substantially as shown.

2. A. coi'ipling-head formed of a series of thin layers which are separated at a suitable distance from each other, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the draw-head with the draw-bolt, two chambers placed upon the draw-bolt, two castings provided with circular tongues or flanges, and the rubber cushions which are placed in the chambers, substantially as described.

a. The combination of the lockingdever, the draw-head in which. it is pivoted, the coupling-head provided with a shoulder, T, the endwise-moving operating-rod V, the cam U, the boxes X, in which the rod is journaled, and a stop or flange on the rod, substantially as shown.

5. The combination of the draw-head, provided with a series of horizontal grooves in its front end, with the pivoted coupling-head provided with a series of flanges, I P, on its inner end, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK A. IVESTBROOK. WINFIELD S. COOK.

Witnesses:

AARON J. Hoannncn, HENRY W. Wleenvs.

IIO 

